Flight tests of a Eurofighter Typhoon with a suite of aerodynamic modifications show they have measurably improved the fighter's subsonic agility, say engineers and pilots involved in the project. The alterations can be easily retrofitted to any Typhoon, it is claimed, and have been demonstrated to pilots from Typhoon partner nations. The Aerodynamic Modification Kit (AMK) is being considered as part of future improvement packages for the aircraft. The AMK comprises small leading-edge root extensions (Lerx), new delta-shaped fuselage strakes that replace the existing rectangular "step" strakes beneath the canopy sills, and larger fiaperons (13% inboard, 8% outboard) that provide more forward sweep to the wings' trailing edge. The primary function of the Lerxes and reshaped fuselage strakes is to make vortex flows more stable and predictable as the angle of attack (AoA) increases. The larger fiaperons provide more roll authority and also counteract the larger nose-up pitching forces introduced by the Lerxes and strakes. "We already have the most unstable production aircraft in the world," one engineer says. "We don't need any more pitch-up."
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